Afrana Nisha jailed for 5 yrs over cheque fraud

Former Secretary of the Independent Legal Services Commission, Afrana Nisha has been sentenced to five years imprisonment with a non-parole period of four years.

While delivering the sentence, Magistrate Shageeth Somarathe says that breaches of trust cannot be accepted from public officers.

Magistrate Somarathe also stressed that public officers must be aware of the consequences of their actions.

Nisha was found guilty on seven counts of falsification of cheques and three counts of obtaining financial advantage.

The matter was in court since 2015.

It was found that between July 2012 and November 2014, Nisha falsified cheques by forging the signatures of former Solicitor-General Sharvada Sharma and lawyer Ana Tuiketei.

She listed herself and ILSC Commissioner Paul Madigan as payees to obtain financial gain.

Nisha falsified cheques and obtained more than $10,000 for personal use.